An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A natural impacting body, such as a comet, asteroid, or planet. It can also be a space probe designed to collide with an astronomical body in the solar system.

Etymology (EN): Impactor, from → impact + -or a suffix forming agent nouns.

Etymology (PE): Barxordgar, from barxord, → impact,

• -gar agent suffix, from kar-, kardan “to do, to make” (Mid.Pers. kardan, O.Pers./Av. kar- “to do, make, build,” Av. kərənaoiti “makes,” cf. Skt. kr- “to do, to make,” krnoti “makes,” karma “act, deed;” PIE base k^wer- “to do, to make”).